Power-generator.



F. A. RAY- POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION man JUNE 29. 1908.

1,164,960. l Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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F. A. RAY.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1,908.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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F. A. RAY.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION man JUNE 29. 1908.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- F. A. RAY.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1908.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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F. A. RAY.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1908.

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m m I) VOLUME OF All? z o'z /nessefs F. A. RAY.

. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

D g g 8 g 5) R Q aznrsaza 95771715 s77 m m 3 8 E b inc/61470507- maximum quantity of heat from the fuel so that the products of combustion thereof passing into the stack at a temperature a little, if anything, higher than that of the atmosphere, and a motor in which the thus compressed and heated working fluid is allowed to expand and to perform work, such motor having provisionsfor circulating a part of the heating fluid'so as to maintain the temperature of the expanding fluid ata compressor forming a part of the invention,

for giving the required pressure to the working fluid at uniform temperature. Fig. 3

represents a horizontal section of part of the compressor, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal sectional view vof a motor in which the compressed and heated fluid is caused to perform work. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a heater. Fig. 6 represents a crosssectional-view'of the same. Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of heater. Fig. 8 represents a crosssectional view of the same. Fig. 9 represents a diagram illustrating a working cycle of the fluid.

The same reference characters indicate the v sameparts in all the figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the essential parts of my power generator are a'c ompressor 1, a tank or reservoir 2 in which the compressed fluid is stored, a heater 3 in which the compressed fluid is raised in temperature, and a motor 4: in which the fluid is caused to perform work.

Reciprocating motion is given by the expansion of the fluid to a piston rod 5 which acts through a connecting rod 6'upon a crank pin 7 which is fastened to a shaft 8, from which power 'may be taken by any Well known means for any purpose.

Preferably the compressor and motor are connected together, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a single rod 9 which is driven by the-plunger of the motor. In this case the compressor and motor are arranged in .tandem fashion, though they may equally .'well be arranged .in parallel, and each con- I ,nected with a separate connecting rod, as

a The internal construction of'the compresshown in Fig. 2, with the same shaft.

l s'or is shownin Fig. 2, which represents a f single-acting compressor.

: trunk plunger; 10 reciprocating through a stufling-box 11 in the wall of a chamber 12.

This includes a which contains a body of relatively light liquid, of a character, .however, which is not particularlv volatile and may remain in contact with air without appreciable evaporation.

Above the chamber 12 is a cooling cham-.

ber 13 bounded by the tube sheets 14 and 15. Into the latter are set a' number of tubes 16 expanded at their ends in the usual manner so as to make tight joints with the sheets. These tubes o en at their lower ends into the chamber 12 and attheir upper ends into a clearance space 17; Thus there is communication'between the tubes both at top and bottom. Inlet valves 18 and 19 open respectively into and out of the space The valves are held in removable casings 20 of which the inlet valve is set into a chest 21 and the outlet valve in a chest 22. An intake pipe 23 leads'to the chest 21 and an outlet pipe 24 from the chest Thiscompres ,sor is shown as arranged to take air from the atmosphere and compress it, so the inlet pipe 23 isopen to the surrounding air, but in case other gases are used, connection is made between the inlet pipe and any suitable supply of gas.

It will be observed that the reciprocations of the plunger 10 cause the fluid in the chamber 12 alternately to rise and recede in the tubes 16. and that during recession of the liquid, air is drawn through the inlet valve 18, which opens inwardly. As the plunger is forced into the chamber 12,the fluid rises and compresses the air in the tubes 16, and when the necessary pressure is raised, this air'is -expelled past the outwardly-opening valve 19 through the pipe 24; into the tank 2.

Light springs 25 and 27 surrounding the stemsof the valves 18 and 19- and bearing against a -wall.28 and plug 26.normally hold the inlet and discharge valves closed. Each of these valves is contained in a tubular Y caslng whlch isset into the air chest and has a communication with the same. The valves are removable with the casings and can be removed therefrom by unscrewing the plug 26 of the one and the cap 29 of the other.

The liquid in the chamber 12 is preferably oil, although water or other suitable fluid may be used, and its office is to transmit the pressure from the plunger to the air or other gas to be compressed in the tubes 16, the columns of fluid in the tubes constituting pistons. The space in'the chamber 13 around the tubes is filled with cooling liquid, such as water, which .is admitted through the inlet pipe 30 and caused to take a sinuous pathbetween and aroundthe, tubes by reasonof-the baflle plates'31 32, being ex-' pelled through the discharge pipe33. The tubes are made of small diameter so as to divide the body of gas under compression vinto-a large numberfof small volumes, and

to; provide a great conducting surface 67 in the direction of the arrows until it reaches the front tube sheet 64. From the space between this sheet and the jnearest b'aflle plate it is led by means of .a pipe 69 to the motor. The course of this pipe is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. It opens into a tube 7 O in which there is a thermostatic member 71 provided for a purpose to be described, and from the tube extends a connection 7 2. This connection divides into.

two branches, one of which is the inlet 47 which leads to the valve chest 45, while the other forms the inlet which adniifiSm part of the hot working fluid to the jacket spaces 38 and 39 around the tubes 42.

The outlet 54; from the jacket spaces leads to a pump 73 which maintains a circulation through the jacket and returns the gas through a pipe 74 to the heater. This pipe. opens into the heater between two of the baflle platesat a point where the tempera ture of the products of combustion in the tubes 61. is nearly the same as that of the gas in the pipe. I

The outlet conduit 49 from the motor exhaust opens into a two-part chamber 75 from which one pipe 76 leads to the space below the grate '59, while another pipe 77 leads to thecombustion chamber of the heater above the fire. Thus part of the hot air exhausted from the motor passes ,7 through the fire to support the combustion which ismoved one way, or the'other so as to restrict or increase the proportion of the exhaust air flowing through the pipes 76 and 77. This valve is connected with the thermostatic rod 71 through. a lever-79, link 80 and rod 81. The thermostatic rod is se-v cured at one end in the tubular casing and passes through the other end of this cas-.

ing, being exposed through the greater part of its length to the hot working fluid from the tube 69. \Vhen the temperature of this gas becomes too high, the rod 71 is expanded and the valve 78 moved so as to shut off more or less the supply of the air which is delivered under the grate, and to increase the-"amount of air delivered above the fire, whilewhen the fire becomes low and the temperature drops, the rod 71 contracts, and the greater proportion of air is blown through the fire to raise the temperature thereof, and a less amount of the cooler ex- I haust fluid is delivered from thepipe 77.

From the foregoing it will be understood that. the air is delivered-from the compressor to the tank practically at atmospheric ternperature, and that it enters theheater at this same temperature. The entrance of the cool air is at that part of the heater where the furnace gases are discharged, so that the coolest incoming air is in heat-receiving relation with .the coolest outflowing gases. The course of the working fluid is then opposite to that of the outflowing flue gases, and as it becomes hotter, approaches the furnace, thereby absorbing 'heat' cumulatively. By regulating the flow of the working fluid, and the furnace gases, the temperature of the latter when they come into the stack may be made nearly as low as the outer atmosphere, so .that approximately all of the available heat delivered by the fuel may be utilized. At the same time, the heat remain- ,lng 1n the working fluldafter having been expanded to do work, is utilized both directly to heat the incoming working fluid '(by being discharged from the pipe 77 .into the flues with theproducts of combustion), and

indirectly by being delivered at a high temperature to support the combustion of the fuel, thereby delivering its heat to the fire.

That proportion 'of the working fluid which. is diverted through the pipe 53 and jackets 38 39 of the motor is continuously circulated by the pump 73. being re-heated immediately after passing from the jackets. In being re-heated, it mingles with the incoming working fluid and again flows from the heaterthrough the pipe 69, Thus a con stant flow of the working fluid at the same temperature as that in the tubes *2 is pro-' vided so asato surround the small volumes into which the working chamber is divided,

andthus the temperature of the working .fluid is maintained approximately constant;

This provides for nearly isothermal expansion'of the air..

The diagramin 9 illustrates the manner in which the working fluid is compressed and expanded. In the diagram the ordinates represent the p'ressurein pounds above the atmosphere, and the abscissae represent volumes. It is assumed for the present illustration that 100 volumes of air are taken into the compressor from the atmosphere at a temperature of (30 Fah., and are then compressed. The curved line a +'b':repr'esents the isothermal compression, which takes place in the compressor by reason of the fact that the heat of compression is carried away by the cooling fluid as fast asit is.

developed. At the end of-the' compression the 100 volumes of air at atmospheric'temperature are compressed to 12 volumes of air at 100 pounds pressure, represented by the space 6 0 e of the diagram. Uponbeing in themotor while heatis suppliedto mainheated to a temperature. of 451, the fluid expands to thevolumerepresented by the line fg, and then .bein allowed to expand tain its temperature. Itscondition during expansion 1 is represented by the: curved line g-h. Thisrepresents the expansion carried completely down to the pressure ;of the atmosphere. By reason of the heat supplied by the jacketing fluid in the motor, the volume is increased 75%, and the workdoneby the heat so supplied is represented by the area between thelinea-b and the line gh. If the air were compressed without extraction of heat, that is, adiabatically, its pres-.

sure curve would be the line an 41, having at 100 pounds pressure 'a temperature of slightly more than 451?. The space onthe diagram between the adiabatic line H and the, isothermal line a.b represents the work of which the compressor is relieved by the cooling of the air during compression, and also the additional capacity for performing work which is supplied by the heating of the air in the heater. If after being isothermally compressed and heated the air were allowed to expand adiabatically in the motor, the fall of pressurewould be along the line 1a to the original volume, and-the eflective work done would be represented by the area at 9. By supplying additional heat in the motor while wor is being done therein so as to effect substantially isothermal ex-v pansion', a greater amount of work, re rehe sented by the area a g k is performed. total work is represented by the area a b g h a. This is the greatest possible theoretic efficiency where an isothermal compression at a low temperature is effected and isothermal expansion at a high temperature is caused.

By my construction of engine and com pressor, the theoretical maximum is closely approximated, for both the compression and expansion are as nearly isothermalas they can be possibly made. The line 3' k represents the volume at 100 pounds pressure when the temperature of the air is raisedin the heater to 581. Isothermal expansionthen to atmospheric pressure is carried to the. point Z and doubles the original volume of air. In Practice the liquid which is used in the motor is a thin oil which willnot .vola-. tilize until about 600 Fah. or a somewhat warmer temperature, so thata temperature as high as that indicated in the diagram is In addition, suitable practically feasible. governing meansmay be provided for regulating the speed of the engine.

The modified form of heater shown in Figs. 7 and 8 differs from that of Figs. 5 and 6 in that the working fluid while being heated, travels through a coil 82 instead -of through a number of chambers separated by bafiles. In this latter form the furnace gases By reference to 1, 'l, will be a noted that the airwhich passes through the heaterand is warmed by the fuel gasesultimately serves ;to support the combustion, for this air'passes through. the pipe 69 to the motor, and thence into the pipe 76 which supplies the air for J the. support of combustion.. Thereby the heat ofv the waste .products of combustion. is utilized iii maintaining a high temperature of combustion of the fuel.

I claim: I a

1.. An engine, comprising a compressor adapted to act on .an .elastic fluid and constructed so that the body of fluid being compressed is subdivided into a number of small parts, provisions for abstracting the heat of.-

.pressor adapted to act on an elastic fluid,

meansfor subdividing the fluid undergoing compression into a multiplicity of small volumes, means for circulating cooling fluid in thermal contact with such volumes to carry away the heat of compression and maintain the temperature approximately constant, a heater for raising the temperature of such fluid at constant pressure, a motor. in which the fluid is caused to expand and perform work, having spaces for working fluid and spaces for heat-supplying fluid, and means for dividing said fluid and causingdiflerent parts thereof to pass into different spaces. V

. 3. An apparatus. for converting heat energy into mechanical work, comprising a compressor adapted to act on an elastic fluid and having provisions for maintaining the entire volume. of the.- fiuid approximately. at constant temperature during the compression, a heater to raise the temperature of'the fluidfand a motor in which the fluid is caused to expand and perform work by ,di-

rect pressure, having provisions for causing the temperature of the entire volume of the fluid to be maintained throughout the expansion'approximately at the higher tempe'rature, by thermal contact with part of the compressed heated fluid.

4. An apparatus for converting heat energy into mechanical work, comprising working fluid to maintain its temperature means for compressing an elastic working fluid and at the same time extracting the heat of compression from all parts of the body of fluid under compression, means for raising the temperature of the fluid, a motor in which the working'fluid is caused to expand, and provisions for causing an unexpanded portion of the heated fluid to impart heat to the working. fluid to maintain its temperature approximately at the high point during the expansion thereof.

5. An apparatus for converting heat energy into mechanical work, comprising means for compressing an elastic working fluid and at the same time extracting therefrom the heat of compression, means for raising the temperature of the fluid, a motor in which the working fluid is caused to expand, provisions for causing a portion of the same heated fluid to impart heat to the approximately at the high point during the expansion thereof, and provisions for transferring the heat of the exhausted fluid to theprior to the expansion I cool compressed fluid thereof in the motor.

6. A- power installation comprising, a compressor having'a large radiating surface of greaterarea than that of its inclosing walls, in contact with which an elastic working fluid is. compressed, means for circulating' a cooling medium in contact with such surface to maintain the temperature.of the working fluid approximately constant, a heater in which the temperature of the fluid is raised..by extraneous heating means; an expansion motor into which the fluid is conducted from the heater, and a space partitioned off from the working chamber of the motor by conducting walls, through which space a part of the heated fluid is caused to of heat, thereby absorbing heat cumulatively from such medium, a motor having a working chamber in which the fluid is caused to act expansively, and means for leading the expanded fluid from said chamber and causing it to deliver its heat to the working fluid prior to expansion of the latter.

8. A power installation comprising a compressor having a large radiating surface, in contact with which an elastic working fluid is compressed, means for circulating a pooling medium in contact with such surface to maintain the temperature of the working fluid approximately constant, a heater having passages through which the compressed fluid is caused to flow progressively toward a source of heat in general opposition to, and never parallel with, the current of a heating medium passing from said source of heat, thereby absorbing heat cumulatively from such medium, a motor having a working chamber in which the fluid is caused to act expansively, and means for leading the expanded fluid from said chamher to the heater and causing it to mingle with the heating medium therein, whereby its heat is delivered to the unexpanded working fluid.

9. A power generator comprising a com pressor having a pressure chamber partitioned off into a number of small separated spaces with provisions for circulating a cooling fluid through the interstices between such spaces, whereby an elastic Working fluid may be compressed at substantially uniform temperature, a heater having a fire space and passages for the products of combustion and for the compressed working fluid separated by conducting walls and arranged so that the working fluid. may flow oppositely to the products of combustion so as to absorb heat cumulatively, and a motor having an expansion chamber subdivided by heat-conducting partitions into a large number of chambers, into which the heated compressed working fluid is admitted, and in the interstices between which a part of the heated working fluid is caused to circulate, whereby a substantially isothermal expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber is efl'ected.

10. A power generator comprising a compressor having a pressure chamber partitioned off into a number of small separated spaces with provisions for circulating a cooling fluid through the interstices between such spaces, whereby an elastic working fluid may be compressed at substantially uniform temperature, a heater having a fire space and passages for the products of combustion and for the compressed working fluid separated by conductingwalls and ar ranged so-that the working fluid may flow oppositely to the products of combustion so as to absorb heat cumulatively, a motor having an expansion chamber subdivided by heat-conductingpartitions into alarge number of'chambers, into which the heated compressed working-fluid. is'ad'n'iitted, and in the interstices between which a part of the heated working fluid is caused to circulate,

whereby a substantially isothermal expansion of the working fluidin the expansion chamber is effected, and an exhaust conduit working fluid.

arranged to discharge the exhaust from said motor where it will mingle with the products of combustion and heat the Working fluid.

11. A power generator comprising a compressor having a pressure chamber partitioned off into a number of small separated spaces with provisions for circulating a cooling fluid through the interstices between such spaces, whereby an elastic working fluid, such as air, may be compressed at substantially uniform temperature, a heater having a fire space and passages for the products of combustion and for the compressed Working fluid separated by conducting walls and arrangedso that the working fluid may flow oppositely to the products of combustion so as to absorb heat cumulatively, a motor having an expansion chamber subdivided by heat-conducting partitions into a large number of chambers. into which the heated compressed working fluid is admitted, and in the interstices between which a part of the heated working fluid is caused to circulate, whereby a substantially isothermal expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber is effected, and an exhaust conduit arranged to discharge the working fluid from said motor beneath the fire, to supply air for combustion and to transfer the heat of the exhaust tothe products 0t combustion and therefrom to the 12. A power generator comprising a compressor having a rn-essure chamber partitioned off into a number of small separated spaces with provisions for circulating a cool fluid through the interstices :between such. spaces, whereby an; elastic working fluid, such as air, may be compressed at substantially uniform temperature, a heater having a fire space and passages for the products of combustion and for the compressed working fluid separated by conducting walls and arranged so that the working fluid may flow oppositely/co the products of combustion so as to absorb heat cumu1a-' tively, a motor having an expansion chamber subdivided by heat-conducting partitions into a large number of chambers, into which the heated compressed working fluid isathnitted. and inthe interstices between which a part of the heated working fluid is caused to circulate, whereby a substantially isothermal expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber is effected, and a divided conduit arranged to conduct away the expanded working fluid from said motor and discharge a part thereof beneath the fire and the remainder back of the fire where it mingles with the products of combustion,

whereby air at high temperature for supporting combustion is furnished, and the heat of the exhaust is transferred to the incomfngcompressed working fluid.

13. A power generator comprising a compressor having a pressure chamber-partitioned off into a number of small separated, spaces with provisions for circulating a cooling fluid through the interstices between sucla spaces, whereby an elastic working fluid, such as air, may be compressed at substantially uniform temperature, aheater having a fire space and passages for the products of combustion and for the compressed, working fluid separated byconducting wa'lls and arranged so that the working fluid may flow oppositely to the products of combustion so as to absorb heat cumulatively, a motor having an expansion chamber subdivided by heat-conducting partitions into a large number of chambers, into which the heated compressed working fluid is iuhnittethand in the interstices between which a part of the heated working fluid caused to circulate, whereby a substantially isothern'ial 'expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber is efl'ected. a. divided conduit arranged to conduct away the expanded working fluid from said motor and dischargea part thereof beneath the fire and the remainder back of the lire where it mingles with the prod-. ucts of combustion. where-by air at high temperature for supporting combustion is furnished. and the heat of the exhaust is transferred to the incoming compressed working fluid. and a valve governed by the heat of the working fluid for regulating the p1'o}' ortion it the exhaust delivered from ,the dilierent'outlets.

3-14. A power generatorcomprising a motor havin -a chamber in which a comipressedvelast c working fluid is adapted to act expansively. means for circulating a portion of thewvorklng fluid around and throu h theinterior of the chamber and provisions .cfoiQl'ieat-ingi and re-heating the same, whereby external heat is supplied continuously to the working fluid and approximately isothermal expansion obtained.

15. vA power generator comprising a motor ('(HlSlbitlllQi of a. chamber in which an elastic iwork ng. fluid is-adapted to act expansively, said chamber being, divided into into a number of separated channels and tortuous passzlges through whlch the ncoming andfo'utgoing currents are causerlfto flow in itherinalcontaet;but outo'f factua'l contact," whereby the waste heat of the 1 eX- pres sor constructed antlfarran etl to impart pressure to Jet \x orking' fluid; ne'ans' fol 'cir'e culat'ing' a "coolin g'fillid, in thernml'com'act witlifall parts of the ody-I'ojf'working fluid being- ,eompriesseu; whereby an increase of pressure in thef la'tter' at substantially tn'r formtemperature is accomplished; a heater by which the "compressed fluid raised in temperature while remaining at constant pressure,"a motor which the heateldffiuid is caused to perform work 'byjexpa'nsi'on; and means, for conveying a portion of'the fluid having. the initial temperature of; that performing wo'rk'in the motor} in thermal contact with al'lparts of the body of work ing fiuicl undergoing expansion to maintain the temperature of the "latter at a constant point, whereby "isothermal expansion is ac complishe'd. 4

1 18. A power generator comprising a compressor for taking the atmospheric air'an'd increasing its pressure t'oa predetermined amount, a means for extractingthe heat'of compression from'the air, a heater'through which the compressed air is passed while remalning at constant pressure, whereby heat energy is lmparted thereto, a motor having a working chamber subdivided into a multiplicity of small Volumes into which the working fluid is conducted from the heater. and a branch for conducting a portion of the heated fl uid into heat-transferring relations with such volumes, such portion of the fluid being circulated through the heater andfinotor. v Q; 1 I

"19. "In jan 'app'arati' ls of the character described, the combination of a chamber conta iiiing liquid; a plungerarranged to more mam-(11y 'a'n'd] outwardly through a" "wall of 'scribedthe combination'of a' chamber containin liquid; a plunger arranged vto more in 'ar lyandxoutwardlv through 'a'wall of such chamber so as to, displace the liquid, a. plurality of tubes coimnunicating with said chamber and rising 'from- -the top thereof; achestinto which the upper portions of said tubes'open, a casing inclosin'g the tubes,'said tubes being contained in said casingwith space'sfbetween them, and means for conducting circulating heat-transferring fluid into. and out of sa d cas ng and such spaces.v

In testimony whereof I hare afliiied my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FOREST A. RAY.

Witnesses:

P, \V. Pnzzn'r'rr, A. RATI'GAN.

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